Improved curtain-fixture



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE R. KELSEY, OF IVEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED CURTAIN-FIXTU RE.

Specification forming part of'Letters Patent No. 33,708, dated November 12, 1861.

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE R. KELsEY, of IVest Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Curtain-Fixtures for Cars, Coaches, the., as a new article of manufacture; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construct-ion, character, and operation Ot` the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part Ot this speciication, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the fixture complete, except that one of the ends is broken away in part to show the ratchet- Wheel and the spring-ratchet inside. Fig. 2 is a plan of the spring end of the fixture with the cap removed, showing the spring in its position. Fig. 3 is a plan of theinside of the cap ot' the ratchet-wheel end of the tixtu re, showing the spring-ratchet all inside.

My improvement consists in using the common volute Or coiled spring to roll up the curtain, and a ratchet-wheel and spring-ratchet, as hereinafter described, to hold the curtain at the desired height.

I make the curtain-roller A A of wood or any other suitable material, either solid Or hollow, and I tit disks of metal, as shown at B, Fig. l, and at C, Figs. l and 2, on the ends ofthe roller, which contain Orsustain the journals on which the roller revolves, as shown at b, Fig. l, and at a, Fig. 2. For the end Cof the rollerI make a cap, as shown at D, Fig. l, which passes Onto the disk C, Figs. l and 2, and incloses the volute or coiled spring E, Fig. 2, (which is secured as represented in Fig. 2 or by any otherwell-known means,) so that when in use that end will appear as represented at C D E, Fig. l. At the other end, on the disk B, I tit a ratchet-wheel or cast on or attach to the disk B blocks which serve as a ratchetwheel, as represented ateo, rbc, Fig-1. For this end I also make a cap, as G, Fig. l, (also shown in plan in Fig. 3,) which furnishes the bearing for the journal b and support for the spring-ratchet, as shown at d, Fig. l, when attached to the Outer side of the cap, and, as shown at cl, Fig. 3, when attached to the inner side of the cap, which spring-ratchet I make and attach substantially as represented in Fig. 1, or as shown in Fig. 3.

Having constructed the several parts of the Iixture, as before described, I secure the curtain, as II, to the roller A A in the usual way and attach a cord, as I, to the springratchet, as shown at d. I attach the inner end of the coiled spring E to the journal portion of the roller, as indicated near a,Fig. 2, and the outer end to the cap D, as indicated at E, Fig. l, when the Whole will be ready to put up for use, all as shown in Fig. l. I secure this fixture to the window-frame by means of screws through brackets or ears, as shown at K, Fig. l, or by any other suitable means. By drawing down the curtain-II I revolve the roller A A, which Winds up the spring E, and the spriugratchet d will hold or retain the roller in any desired position. Then I wish to roll up the curtain, I draw back the spring-ratchet d by means ot' acord, as I, or by any other convenient means, and allow the spring to roll up the curtain as far as is desired.

The advantages of my improvement consist in the cheapness and simplicity of its construction, as the spring-ratchet is made of one piece and so formed and attached that no accident can Occur from pulling too hard Or too sudden on the cord, for, from the shape of the point of the ratchet and its position within the cap, it cannot be drawn out of place.

I am aware that coiled springs have long been used for rolling up tape-measures, curtains, &c., and that ratchetwheels and spring-ratchets are well known. I therefore do not claim eitherot these as such as myinvention; but

IVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The curtain-fixture consisting of the roller titted with its disks and caps and operated by the coiled spring, ratchet-wheels, and springratchet, when the Whole is constructed, arranged, and iitted for use substantially as herein described.

GEO. R. KELsEY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. THOMPSON, R. FITZGERALD. 

